Dental matrix clamp



y 17, 1951 D. R. CHRISTIE :rm. 60,553

DENTAL MATRIX CLAMP Filed March 17, 1949 Aiiornzy Patented July 17, 1951 NIH-1E;

san -re a r re un.

[Erica D N AT IX CL Donald RrChristie and.Merton'M.'Bottemiller, Wadena, Minn.

, Application March 17,1949, Serial 1510. 81,876

" Claims;

, The present invention is particularly concerned with a dentalmatrixclamp'of the type in which a matrix ribbon .clamps snugly. around a tooth during thefitting. of a cavity. These ribbons are highly flexible. in .order to enable them to conform closely with the contour of the teeth, so-

- Otherobjects of theinvention will be apparent from the accompanying specification, claims, and

A drawing of which Figure 1 is a top plan view of several normal 3 teeth of a lower jaw, showing our improved matrix clamp cooperating witha matrix ribbon applied to two of the teeth;

Figure 2 is an inside elevation of the teeth and a front elevation of the clamp of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan View of several normal teeth of a lower jaw, showing our improved matrix clamp partiall in section, cooperating with a matrix ribbon applied to merel one of the teeth;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the matrix clamp without the matrix ribbon;

have, however, all lacked the ability ,to conform to the varying degrees of taper and curvature found with a normal tooth. A further defect with prior matrix clamps is that itis possibleto fi11' only one tooth at a time since no provision is made for simultaneousl applyinga matrix band to two teeth. Sincecavities ,often occur in adjacent teeth, the lack of a provision for-applying Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5'-5, to show the construction of one of the ribbon guides;

Figures 6 and '7 are top sectional view of the ribbon clamp on a somewhat larger scale than that of Figures 1 to 4; and

Figures 8 and 9 areviews of two modifications of a pivotable ribbon guide.

amatrix band simultaneously to. more than one" tooth results inlossof timepf both the, dentist and the patient.

An object of the presentinvention is to provide Referring to the drawing, our improved matrix clamp comprises a body member Ill formed of sheet metal and having upturned side flange a matrix clamp which permits the matrix ribbon" to more closely conform to the contour of the tooth despite varying amounts of tape]; and;

curvature of the tooth.

A more specific object of the. invention is to provide a matrix clamp in which the matrix rib-' bon is guided by a plurality of f reely tiltable portions ll and I2.

"the full length of the flanges.

Member H] is cut' away between the flanges H and I2 for substantially Disposed between the flanges. II and I2 are a plurality of ribbon guiding rollers 16,- I!, l8; l9, and 20 (best shown in Figure 4). Each of these rollers is supported upon a'pin 22, which extends between the side flanges II and I2, and is secured rigidly thereto by piening or any other suitable method, as best shownin Figure 5.. In ourpreferre'd modificaguides, th'epoints of tilting of which may be moved.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a matrix clamp in ,which provision is -made for simultaneously clamping the matrix tion, thepin 22 carries a flattened sphere or bead 23 which closely engages the pin 22 so as to adhere frictionally to the same in any position in which it may beplaced. The roller 20, in this preferred modification, takes the form of a cylinribbon closely about a pluralityof teeth so. cavi-' ties in adjoining teeth may be simultaneously- A further object of theiinvention is to provide' drical sleeve surrounding the sphere or bead 23 v in rolling engagement therewith, so that the bead 23 forms a bearing for the sleeve 20, which both permits rotation of the sleeve about its axis and a matrix clamp, such as set forth in the preceding object, in which provision is made for the matrix ribbon closely conforming to the various teeth about which the matrix ribbon is clamp @gldespite differences in h per 0f the teeth.

'tilting'movement transverse to its axis, as shown in dotted lines. The-sphere or bead 23 is flattened F onthose portions of its surface facing the flanges A further object of theinvention is .to provide such a matrix clamp for a plurality of teeth in "which thematrix ribbonis maintained ,in uniform tension about all ofthe teeth surrounded by the matrix ribbon.

A further object of the invention is to provideamatrix clamp-in which a provision is made for 'morereadily removin the ribbon-for inspection I and cleaning purposes. -co

II and !2 to permit axial manipulation of bead 23 by a dentists explorer tool which may be inserted in the space between the end of the roller or sleeve 20 and the adjacent side flange. By

'means' of the explorer tool, the bead may be moved from one end" to the other end of pin -22 for a purpose which will be more fully explained later.

1 While the construction of only roller 20 has been described, it is to be understood that the constructionofthe-other rollers, particularly rollers ll, l8, I9, and 20 is the same. In some cases, roller l6 may be provided with a conventional cylindrical bearing which does not provide for tilting of the roller transverse to its axis, as is the case with the construction just described in connection with roller 20.

Again considering the body member I0, this member terminates at its outer end in an end flange portion 25 which is reversely bent to provide two spaced legs 26 and 21.

Slideably disposed on the body member ID is a slide member 30, also formed of sheet metal. This member is slideably retained in engagement with body member I by a pair of ears 3| and 32, which are bent over to engage'the front wall of the member ID.

The slide member 30 has secured thereto a threaded rod 34, which extends through a pair of aligned openings in the legs 26 and 2'! of flange 25. A nut 35 having a flange 36 and a knurled knob 31 is in threaded engagement with rod 34. The flange 36 of nut 35 is retained in place between the legs 25 and 21 of body member ID, so that any rotation of the nut 35 by manipulation of knob 31 causes slide member 30 to move longitudinally with respect to body member ID. As will be apparent, this longitudinal movement of slide 30 is employed to vary the size of the loop or loops formed by the matrix ribbon.-

The slide member 30 pivotally carries at its inner end a clamp in the form of an L-shaped member 40, having one leg pivotally secured to member 30 and having its other or outer leg provided with a pair of slots 4| and 42. The slots 4| and 42 are designed to receive the ends of a matrix ribbon 4.4. The ends of the matrix ribbon are threaded first through opening 42 and are then lopped back through opening 4|. The element 40 is shown in Figure 6 in the position in which it is placed while the ribbon is being threaded through openings 42 and 4|. Upon tightening of the ribbon due to the movement of slide 30 to the right, as viewed in the drawing, the clamp 40 is rocked in a counter clockwise direction to cause the ribbon in the openings 4| and 42 to assume a position such as shown in Figure 7 in which the outer end of the outer leg of the clamp 40 is in a straight line with the point of pivotal connection of clamp 40 with slide member 30, and with the general direction of ribbon 44. As will be evident from Figure '7, this position is one in which the loop formed by the ends of ribbon 44 is tightly gripped by the end portion of the upper leg of clamp 40.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the operation of the clamp will be described in connection with the filling of two adjacent teeth. The possibility of using our matrix clamp simultaneously with two adjacent teeth is of considerable importance, as previously explained, inasmuch as cavities commonly occur in two such adjacent teeth. As will be apparent from the drawing, the ribbon 44 is threaded around roller 20 and looped through the space between rollers l9 and 20. The ribbon is then brought around roller I8 and looped through the space between rollers l1 and I8. Finally, the ribbon is looped around roller I6 and brought back to the clamp 4|! where the two ends are threaded first through opening 42 and then through opening 4|, as previously described. The two loops of the ribbon 44 are then placed over the teeth containing the cavities to befilled, and while the loops of the ribbon are retained in place manually, the nut 35 is tightened up by rotation of knob 31. Due to the fact that both ends Q t e ribbon 4 44 are attached to the moveable clamp 40, the ribbon will be simultaneously and equally tensioned about both of the teeth to which it is applied until it closely conforms with the contour of the teeth. As previously explained, the rollers I6 to 20 are provided with bearings which permit them to tilt transverse to their axis, as shown in Figure 5. The purpose of this is to permit the matrix ribbon to conform with the contour of tapered teeth. By locating the bead 23' at one end of pin 22, it is possible for the rollers IE to 20, and particularly rollers I! to 2D, to adjust themselves to varying degrees of taper.

The matrix ribbon loops may be readily re-- moved from the teeth by loosening the clamp and slipping the loops off. Furthermore, the ribboncan be quickly removed from the clamp by lifting the clamp 40 to the position shown in Figure 6 and pulling the ends of the ribbon first out of slot 4| and then out of slot 42. Thereafter, the ribbon can be readily removed from between the rollers.

Furthermore, as is evident from Figure 3, the

ribbon can be used to form a matrix for only one tooth by not forming a loop between one pair of rollers. Thus, in Figure 3, the loop between rollers I1 and |8 has been omitted and the ribbon extends merely on one side of rollers l1 and H3. The same uniform engagement of the ribbon with the tooth is obtained when only one loop is employed as when two loops are employed.

Where it is necessary to reverse the direction in which the clamp is applied to the teeth, as in Figure 3, all that is necessary in order to permit such reversal is to move the head 23 from one end of the pin 22 t the opposite end. As pointed out earlier, this can be readily done by the insertion of an explorer tool between the roller and the side flange adjacent which the bead 23 is located, and the use of the explorer tool to move the bead 23 longitudinally of pin 22. As evident from Figures 1 and 2, the beads should always be located at the ends of the pins adjacent the point of narrowest width of the teeth, that is, next to the gum line. With the beads in this location as tension is applied to the ribbon, the rollers will tilt to conform with the taper of the teeth, permitting the ribbon closely and uniformly to engage the teeth.

The mounting for the rollers shown in Figure 5' is, as indicated above, the preferred form of our invention. In this arrangement, it is possible to adequately grip teeth. of varying characteristics because of the fact that the point of tilting of the roller 20 is adjacent one end. Simpler arrangements are shown in Figures 8 and 9. In these modifications, the side flanges, being identical, have been given similar reference characters. The roller in Figure 8 has been designated by the numeral 20a. In this modification, the roller is supported upon a bearing 45 having the form of a pair of opposed cones. It will be obvious that the roller 20a is not only free to roll about this bearing 45 but is also free to tiltably move about the area of greatest diameter thereof,

which area is at the center of the bearing. While this arrangement provides a simple construction which permits shifting of the roller to accommodate irregularities in the teeth, it does not provide the flexibility of the arrangement of Figure 5 and does not permit satisfactory clamping of the band against the tooth where the thickest portion of the tooth is adjacent the middle thereof.

7 6 in; l =--'In thewarramgement iof 'l 'iguram vthe roller has-urea been designated::by: thereferenee enumeral 201).;

this. case,-"the"roller: bears directly upon the pith-22, being provided-with apair of conical axia recesses and w to permittilting-of the. roller about the: pin '22: :Thisarrangement; while ex- :tremelysimple infnatureand permitting a lim-;

. fallel itor said pairs ofcguiclesrrand about'which the matnixxrribbon' may ribe flooped afterhpassing around said: pairs'rofsguides, said-further: guide being more remotely:located: from said clamp im'emb'er than :said .pair of. guides, aiclampmemv bel adaptedtor engage the'opposite endsxof the 'ited lamount oiv flexure ofethe.:matrixmibbon is: 1 1ribbon,:andameans for movin said clamp memsubject to the'limitations ofthe arrangement of:':... b er withiirespect t i body m t p r-Figure 8. 3 1.0:taneou'sly vary "the size of said: loops to'xclamp -It will-be seen that-we have provided a :dental'i. them about-a' plurality of teeth. amatrixclampi-n which it-is-=possible:to uniformly 51%111 combination; a; matrix clamp comprising clamp the'ribbon-about-a' tooth -regardless of the a bodynmemberi having a': pluralityiof pairs of contourotthe-tooth. -It -wil l-:f-urthermore be normally?parallel-:guides with: openings=between apparent "that we haveprovideda-matrix clamp -said-tgl.iides,'fa furtherfiguide parallel'to said pairs by: which it is possible to' -uniformly a-clamp a." 110i.- guides 'a clamp member movablymounted on '--matr.ix ribbon simultaneously::about-:a-plura1ity said body member said further guide-bein more of'teethr Itwill also'be apparentthatour'olamp remotely: located from said clamp member than iST extremely'zsimplein' character and can be: said pairtofueguides, a single'imatrix'r ribbon exreadily-aSSembIed. 0vtending1frorri said'iclam :;membersuccessively While we haveshown"certainospecific embodi-' around and between 'the"'guides' of the pairs of "r' -ments-of ourrinvention for purposes of illustra guides an'd around said :further guide. back to ti'on, it is to abe understood that'our invention is "said clamp member; the ends of said ribbon be- -=-l-im-ited 'solely=by zthescope of'theappended-claims, o ing 'secured tosaid clamp member, and means :"HWG claimas ourinvention: -fol moving said clamp'member with "respect to a: 1. -Awmatrix-;.c1amp comprisingua bodymembersaid body member to vary the size of the loops .having a -pluralitycof pairs-ofsnormally"parallel formed by the ribbon extending between the i-guides, said body: member being cut away at least guides of said pairs of guides. between eachepair'ofrguides toprovideaplurality 6. In combination, a matrix clamp 'comprising -of z'openings, saidaopeningsibeing:slightly:wider -a body member'having a plurality of pairs of thana conventionalcmatrix ribbon to. permit the normally parallel guides with: openings between :looping of aiesinglezanatrix' ribbonathrough said said'guides, afurthe'r guidepar'allelto said pairs :openings-to. form-.a 'plurality of. loops for embracof guides; a clamp member movably'mounted on ing teethaand; meansfcarriedib'yrsaid body memsaid body 'memben a T'matIiX ribbon extending vber-rand adapted-etofiengagerat least one-"end of from said clamp member successivelyaround suchaaribbon'to tensionthesameisimultaneously and between -the guides of the pairs of guides about a plurality of teeth. and a round said further guide backtosaid clamp =2.--A matrixclampr'comprisinga body -membe member,:the ends of said ribbon: being secured having "aplura'lity'of: pairs.zof-finormally. paralle to said clampmember, and 'means for moving guides-said body member beingrcut away at least" said clamp member with respect to said body wbetween eaclr pair of guides to provide a. plurality: member to v y the Size of 1 formed ofopenings', said. iopenings bein .zslightly.zwider z' iby' the ribboneXtending between theguides of nthana conventional matrix ribbon toper'mit the sa pa o guides, Saidiguides: of s pairs of "loopingofzra 'single"matrix .lribboni:through saidu des-ib et form ofllollers individually openings: to formapluralityofloopsafor. embractiltable to enable the loops of the ribbon 'to conring-teeth;:andimeansecarried by said body memform to teeth-lot varioustapers. rberiand adapted to engage at least-one end of 1 I T.--A- t X- p ICOIIIDIiSiTIg-a y suchia ribbon to tension the same simultaneously b'er havinga pair of normally parallel-guides about a plurality' df teeth; each of said "guides 1 and a furthe guidel a ly parallel' -to the beingifreelytiltableeto enable th ribbon to consod s d p r, said body member'being Cut form tothe":contour of variously tapered teeth l? way= twe n said pair Of-guidestoprOVide an 1- *andrto maintain th'e'tensi'on of the ribbon more p eb 'bwfie p i g bein id r w-mrnearly. uniform .ov-erathewidthof the -ribbon. thana conventional matrix ribbon; a clamp 3. .Acmatrixaclampscornprising a body mom-" Tmember iT'lovablymountedwn y berzhaying...aiplurality.of..-pair of normally par :ber, said further -guide beingmore-remotely loallelrgui'des, lsaid body member being cut away Gated! f om 'Said clamp memberi than said p at least between each pair of guides to provide a bfilgui'des', Said pg adapted 110 ve a plurality tofu openings said openings being matrix ribbon looped through 'the opening be- -.slightly. wider: thane-aeconventional matrix rib p f guides and around said furbon to permit the looping). oi az'rsingle-it'matrixg ther guide with the ends-attached to said clamp ribbon through saidopeningsito form a plurality membensaid clampfurth'er being provided with of loops'forembra'cin'g teethf'a clamp member means o moving said clamp membr with r =-l.-a-dapted to engage thexbpposite ends-*ofsuch a spect to 'said body member-to vary the size of ribbon, andgmeans fo'rj rnoving saidzclamp mem said loop, and said guides bf said pair of guides .ber withrespect...to said body member t simul beingfrly' tiltable positions 71in which y .taneously varynthe sizeliof aid loops to clam are no longer 'parallelso as toaccommodate the 7 .themiaboutaplurality oiteeth. .tap'ered' contour of 'a tooth.

4. A matrix clamp comprising a body mem 8. A matrix clamp comprising a body member havin a plurality of pairs of normally parhaving a pail of normally parallel gu de allel guides, said body member being cut away n a further guide l y p ll l to the at least between each pair of guides to provide guides of said pair, said body member being cut a plurality of openings, said openings being away between said pair of guides to provide an slightly wider than a conventional matrix ribopening therebetween, said opening being wider bon to permit the looping of a matrix ribbon than a conventional matrix ribbon, a clamp through said openings to form a plurality of 75 member movably mounted on said body member,

loopsr-forc embracingzteeth; rafurther? guide parsaid further guide being more remotely located from said clamp member than said pair of guides, said clamp being adapted to have a matrix ribbon looped through the openin between said pair of guides and around said further guide with the ends attached to said clamp member, said clamp further being provided with means for moving said clamp member with respect to said body member to vary the size of said loop, and said guides all bein tiltable with respect to said support to allow the ribbon to conform closely with the tapered contour of a tooth.

9. A matrix clamp comprising a body member having a pair of normally parallel guides, said body member bein cut away between said pair of guides to provide an opening therebetween, said opening being wider than a conventional matrix ribbon, a clamp member movably mounted on said body member, said clamp being adapted to have a matrix ribbon looped through the opening between said pair of guides with the ends attached to said clamp member, said clamp further being provided with means for moving said clamp member with respect to said body member to vary the size of said loop, and each of said guides being tiltable about a point close to one end thereof to allow the ribbon to conform closely'with the tapered contour of a tooth.

10. A matrix clamp comprising a body member having a pair of normally parallel guides, said body member being cut away between said pair of guides to provide an opening therebetween, said openin being wider than a conventional matrix ribbon, a clamp member movably mounted on said body member, said clamp being adapted to have a matrix ribbon looped through the opening between said pair of guides with the ends attached to said clamp member, said clamp further being provided with means for moving said clamp member with respect to said body member to vary the size of said loop and each of said guides being in the form of a cylindrical roller journalled on said support member and tiltable with respect thereto.

11. A matrix clamp comprisin a body member having a pair of normally parallel guides, said body member being cut away between said pair of guides to provide an opening therebetween, said opening being wider than a conventional matrix ribbon, a clamp member movably mounted on said body member, said clamp being adapted to have a matrix ribbon looped through the openin between said pair of guides with the ends attached to said clamp member, said clamp further being provided with means for moving said clamp member with respect to said body member to vary the size of said loop, and each of said guides being tiltable about a member adjustable over the full length of said guide so that the point of tilting may be selected.

12. A matrix clamp comprising a body member having a pair of normally parallel guides, said body member bein cut away between said pair of guides to provide an opening therebetween, said opening being wider than a conventional matrix ribbon, a clamp member'movably mounted on said body member, said clamp being adapted to have a matrix ribbon looped through the opening between said pair of guides with the ends attached to said clam member, said clamp further being provided with means for moving said clamp member with respect to said body member to vary the size of said loop, and each of said guides bein in the form of a hollow cylinder journalled upon and tiltable about a bead frictionally mounted on.a shaft and movable longitudinally of the shaft and cylinder.

13. A matrix clamp comprising a body member having a means thereon for securing the opposite ends of a matrix ribbon thereto to form a p engageable about a tooth and means for tightening said loop, and a guide for said ribbon consisting of a hollow cylindrical roller journalled upon and tiltable upon a bead frictionally mounted on a shaft and movable longitudinally of the shaft and cylinder.

14. A matrix clamp having a body member and a clamp member movably mounted thereon for securing the opposite ends of a matrix ribbon thereto to form a loop engageable about a tooth, means for movin said clamp member with respect to said body member to vary the size of said loop, said clamp member consisting of a pivoted element havin pair of ribbon receiving slots therein, and a matrix ribbon secured to said body member and having both ends thereof passed together through said ribbon receiving slots in sequence, said clamp member being effective upon tension being applied thereto by operation of said previously named means to swing in a direction to grip the ribbon extending through said slots.

15. A matrix clamp comprising a body member having a plurality of pairs of normally parallel guides, said body member being cut away at least between each pair of guides to provide a plurality of openings, said openings being slightly wider than a conventional matrix ribbon to permit the looping of a single matrix ribbon through said openings to form a plurality of loops for embracing teeth, and means carried by said body member and adapted to engage at least one end of such a ribbon to tension the same simultaneously about a plurality of teeth, each of said guides being freely titlable about one end thereof to enable the ribbon to conform to the contour of variously tapered teeth and to maintain the tension of the ribbon more nearly uniform over the Width of the ribbon.

DONALD R. CHRISTIE. MERTON M. BO'ITEMILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 701,799 Crenshaw June 3, 1902 1,097,520 Bonnalie May 19, 1914 2,367,439 Samphere Jan. 16, 1945 2,453,541 Reiter Nov. 9, 1948 

